Process for moving food objects through a frying tank

Abstract

A small, inexpensive doughnut fryer has a conveyor and separate elevator that are driven from the same shaft without interference with one another. Sprockets for driving the elevator are recessed to receive rods from the conveyor. The entire conveyor assembly is provided with a quick release coupling to the power supply. A method and apparatus for moving objects to be fried through a hot frying liquid by producing intermittent waves and eddies in the liquid in the desired direction of travel to propel the objects in a straight line.

We claim: 
     
       1. A process for moving small food objects through a hot liquid in a frying tank by a pusher bar conveyor having spaced pusher bars, comprising: heating the liquid in the tank to a frying temperature and creating liquid currents in the liquid;   placing the objects into the liquid in front of the bars of the conveyor; and   intermittently moving the bars at a generally constant speed through the liquid, for creating repetitive wave motions in the liquid to push the objects toward the next forward bar and overcoming the heat created liquid currents in the liquid thereby moving the objects in a straight path through the liquid to avoid misalignment.   
     
     
       2. The process of claim 1, said step of intermittently moving the bars including creating an eddy pulling current behind the next most forward bar to draw the objects forward toward the next most forward bar with each intermittent motion of the bars.